nd she fully divined that he had come to ask
another meeting, for she noticed the tremor that seized him when he
brushed against her hair.

"There's a ring at the bell; that must be he!" suddenly exclaimed
Pauline.

Then the faces of the two sisters assumed an air of indifference. It
was Malignon who made his appearance, dressed with greater care than
ever, and having a somewhat serious look. He shook hands; but eschewed
his customary jocularity, thus returning, in a ceremonious manner, to
this house where for some time he had not shown his face.

While the doctor and Pauline were expostulating with him on the rarity
of his visits, Juliette bent down and whispered to Helene, who,
despite her supreme indifference, was overcome with astonishment:

"Ah! you are surprised? Dear me! I am not angry with him at all! he's
such a good fellow at heart that nobody could long be angry with him!
Just fancy! he has unearthed a husband for Pauline. It's splendid,
isn't it?"

"Oh! no doubt," answered Helene complaisantly.

"Yes, one of his friends, immensely rich, who did not think of getting
married, but whom he has sworn to bring here! We were waiting for him
to-day to have some definite reply. So, as you will understand, I had
to pass over a lot of things. Oh! there's no danger now; we know one
another thoroughly."

Her face beamed with a pretty smile, and she blushed slightly at the
memories she conjured up; but she soon turned round and took
possession of Malignon. Helene likewise smiled. These accommodating
circumstances in life seemed to her sufficient excuse for her own
delinquencies. It was absurd to think of tragic melodramas; no,
everything wound up with universal happiness. However, while she had
thus been indulging in the cowardly, but pleasing, thought that
nothing was absolutely indefensible, Juliette and Pauline had opened
the door of the pavilion, and were now dragging Malignon in their
train into the garden. And, all at once, Helene heard Henri speaking
to her in a low and passionate voice:

"I beseech you, Helene! Oh! I beseech you--"

She started to her feet, and gazed around her with sudden anxiety.
They were quite alone; she could see the three others walking slowly
along one of the walks. Henri was bold enough to lay his hand on her
shoulder, and she trembled as she felt its pressure.

"As you wish," she stammered, knowing full well what question it was
that he desired to ask.

Then, hurriedly, the